Camera



C. MFMARCH AND C. L. TlDD.

CAMERA.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 12, I917.

1 ,34 1,7 1 8. Patented June 1, 1920.

4 SHEETSSHEET 1- [7206122073 6/? LIP/6.51;. flda C/z [Ir/6:114, Marc/2 C. M. MARCH AND C. L. TIDD.

CAMERA.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 12, 1917.

1,341,71 8. Patented June 1, 1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

C. M. MARCH AND C. L. TIDD.

CAMERA.

APPLICATION FILEDJUNEIZ, 1911.

1,341,718. I Patented June 1, 1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

Oz! 4 0 001 I fiz orzig/ UNETED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES M. MARCH, OF PORTLAND, Ir-IAINE, AND CHARLES I1. TIDD, OF GARDNER, MASSACHUSETTS.

CAMERA.

Application filed June 12, 1917.

To all whom 2'25 may concern Be it known that we, CHARLES M. TVTARCH and CHARLES L. TIDD, citizens of the United States, residing at Portland, county of Cumberland State of Maine, and Gardner, county of Worcester, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, respectively, have invented certain new. and useful Improvements in Cameras, of which the following is a specification.

This invent-ion relates to cameras, and more particularly to such cameras as are provided with front adjustment. The adjustable front camera, whether equipped for vertical or horizontal adjustment or both, is frequently damaged by the improper folding of the bellows in closing the camera before the front has been properly centered or alined as to the predetermined plaiting or folding of the bellows.

he improper folding of the bellows not only makes the camera liable to jam and thus destroy the fold therein so that either in jamming or later in falsely folding a puncture is formed in the bellows.

For these reasons, as set forth in previous application of Charles M. March, filed August 13, 191%, No. 78%,723, it is desirable to provide some means for preventing the closing of the camera when its front is out of its proper folding alinement or centering in either or both directions. Our present invention involves certain improvements over the structure therein shown, while embodying the desirable principles therein involved.

1n the present application the invention is embodied in forms particularly adapted to embodiment in certain standardized camera structures, as will more fully appear in the specification which follows and as shown in the urawings forming a part hereof.

Throughout the specification and drawings like reference numerals are employed to indicate corresponding parts, and in the drawings Figure} is a side elevation of a camera of well known type equipped with our in- .vention.

F 2 is a section on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view of the under side of the front base.

ig. l is a sectional detail of the operating screw post.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 1, 1920.

Serial No. 174,373.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail of the stop taken on approximately the line 5-5 of Fig.

Fig. 6 is a section detail of the finger piece and screw post taken in the line 6-43 of Fig. 4.

Fig. '7 is a similar detail of the latch and screw post.

7 is a detail section on line y g of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7" is a detail perspective illustrating the socket for the screw post and the screw post.

Fig. 8 is an elevation of a front of modified form equipped with our invention.

Fig. 9 is aview of the under side of the base of the front shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail on the line lO10 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a view of the under side of the closing side in place on the base shown in Fig. 9, and

Fig. 12 is a sectional view of the front and guide on the line 12l2 of Fig. 11.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive, 1 have shown a camera front having capacity for both vertical and lateral adjustment, and provided with the usual po sitioning indications for indicating to the user when the front is properly centered.

The front 1 consists of a plate provided with the usual opening i in which the lens and shutter mechanism is mounted and to which plate the front end of the bellows B is secured.

The lateral edges of the front 1 are turned back upon themselves and constitute guides 1 in which are mounted vertical posts 9 and 3 The lower ends of these posts are supported upon a transverse connecting base plate 3l,the postQbeing fast to said plate 31 and the post 2 being mounted for l artial rotation in a special socket 21 secured to said plate by a screw or other fastening 21. As here shown, the lower end of the post 2 is reduced as indicated at 23, Fig. l,

' to rotatably lit a hole 21 formed in the unends. This construction enables the front 1 to be adgusted laterally. Suitable mechanism is provided to hold this adjustment. The slide itself has longitudinal travel in Cir suitable ways formed in guide strips 30 secured to the inner face of the hinged camera cover C.

The vertical adjustment of the front 1 is effected by a nut 3 run on the post 2 and held in a transverse slot formed in the cor responding guide 1 The post 2 is threaded as indicated at 1 to co-act with the nut threads in effecting the up and down adjustments of the front, the threads 4c running to the upper end of the post, (see Figs. f and 7 and there being a cap 40 threaded on the upper end of the post to limit the vertical adjustment of the front 1 by contact with the upper edge of the nut 3.

According to the present invention, the vertical adjustment of the front 1 is controlled by a finger piece 7 which may conveniently be formed as an integral extension of a ring 7 mounted in a transverse slot in the edge guide 1 below the nut 3 and having a spline 7 engaged in a slot or keyway 5 formed longitudinally in the post 2 whereby to cause the post to rotate through a partial revolution when pressure is applied to the finger piece 7 Secured to the front 1 below the finger piece 7 is a fixed key 8, the free end of which projects through a slot 9 formed in the adjacent tubular guide 1 and normally lies in a lateral branch or looking recess (3 extending from the longitudinal key way 5 for a short distance around the periphery of the post 2 Before the front 1 can be adjusted vertically it is necessary to turn the finger piece 7 and with it the post 2 through a partial revolution sufficient to bring the key-Way 5 into alinement with the fixed key S. The engagement of the key 8 with the key-way 5 holds the post 2 against further rotation, so that when the operating nut 3 is rotated the front 1 is caused to slide vertically relative to the posts 2 and 2 being guided thereon by the guide portions 1 The initial rotation of the post 2 un der the pressure applied to the linger piece 7 is resisted by a spring 2% contained with in the socket 21 below the enlarged head 28 of the post 2 and consisting of a body portion coiled about the post 2 below said head and bent extremities 21 and 21- anchored, respectively, in a slot 21 formed in the socket 21 and a slot 23 formed in the lower end of the post 2 The socket 21 itself 'is cupped as indicated at 21 to rotatably receive the head 28 of the post 2 and the slots 21 and 21 extend from said cupped portion at opposite sides of the socket.

The slot 21 constitutes a guide for the shank of a transversely disposed cam piece or pawl 25 which is reciprocated therein by the rotation of the head 28. As here shown the inner end of the cam piece 5 is bent laterally and forked as indicated at 25 to engage a pin 26 set through a circumrcreir tial recess 27 extending partially about the head 28. The opposite end of the cam piece 25 is provided with a downwardly disposed car 25 which when the cam piece is moved transversely by the rotation of the head 28 under the actuation of the finger piece 7 is drawn against a laterally disposed pin or stud 11 on a locking piece 11. The locking piece 11 is normally held up and out of interfering position relative to any suitable obstacle, as the usual cross-bar or brace 10 across the slideway 30, by any suitable spring, and as here shown by the spring shank portion 11 of said locking piece, which shank is secured to the underface of the slide 30.

The operation thus far is as follows!- The locking piece 11 is normally maintained up out of interfering position relative to the obstacle 10 by its spring shank 11 but before the front 1 can be adjusted vertically this locking piece is automati cally moved into interfering position by the operation of the finger-piece 7 and since it is necessary to operate this finger-piece before the front 1 may be adjusted vertically, it will be clear that we have effectually safe-guarded the bellows against injury due to improper folding when the front 1 is out of alinement. The partial rotation of the post 2 caused by actuation of the finger-piece 7 is sufficient to draw the cam lever 25 laterally, causing its cam 25 to engage the pin 11 and hold down the locking piece 11, against the action of its spring 11 in position to strike the obstacle 10 should it be attempted to close the camera after the front 1 has been adjusted without first restoring the alinement of the front. The restoration of the alinement of the front as indicated by the alining marks 'T()S0 automatically releases the locking mechanism 25 11 11 in the following manner. By the terms alinement or contered as herein used, is meant that posi tion of the camera front in which the bellows may be collapsed freely and evenly along its predetermined lines of plaiting or folding without danger of being creased along any line or lines other than its natural fold.

As the nut 3 is run up or down, accord ing to whether the front had been adjusted up or down, the front is moving toward alined position so that when the key 8 is again brought opposite the interrupt-ed portion 6 of the key-way 5, the spring 21, which had been overcome by the engagement of the key in the key-way, is released and rotates the post 2 in the reverse direction to its direction of initial rotation, allowing the key to lock in the recess 6. The same reverse rotation of the post 2 moves the campiece in reverse direction, releasing the pin 11 of the locking piece 11, and allow ing the spring 11 to raise the locking piece 11 out of interfering position relative to the obstacle 10 so that the camera may be closed.

It will thus be seen that the locking piece 11 is automatic in its action and further that the front 1 cannot be adjusted vertically without first positively setting said stop in obstructing position and that the return of the front to alinement after ad justment vertically positively removes said stop from obstructing position.

According to the present invention it is further contemplated that the lateral adjustment of the front 1 shall also set and release the locking piece 11 automatically, so that before a lateral adjustment can be made, the locking piece 11 will be positively set in obstructing position and will remain in such position until the front is brought back to horizontal alinement, whereupon the stop will be automatically removed from obstructing position to permit closing the camera. 7

To effect this, the locking piece 11 is proided with a projection 11 on the spring portion 11 thereof adapted for locking engagement in a notch or recess 32 (Figs. 5 and 7 formed in one of the rims 31 of the base plate 31. Ordinarily, the locking piece 11 which 'is carried by the slide 30, is held raised by the spring 11 so that the projection 11 lies in the notch 32, but when the finger piece '7 is turned to permit the vertical adjustment of the front 1, the cam 25 throws down the locking piece 11, withdrawing the projection 11 from said notch 32, and thus releasing the base plate 31 for the horizontal adjustment relative to the slide 30 and locking piece 11 which remain stationary. This horizontal adjustment may be made therefore only after the fingerpiece 7 has been operated. lVith the parts thus positioned, the locking piece 11 is disposed in interfering relation to the obstacle 10 and the camera may not be closed. It is therefore necessary in order to put the camera in a condition to be closed, to first restore the vertical alinement of the front. This releases the spring 2a causing the post 2 to turn in reverse direction, withdrawing the cam 25 from the pin 11 and allowing the spring 11 to raise the locking piece 11 out of interfering relation to the obstacle 10, and causing the projection 11 to lie in position to snap into its notch 32 when the plate 31 is returned to center.

Referring now to the embodiment shown in Figs. 8 to 12 inclusive in which our invention is shown applied to a standard type of camera of slightly different construction, it will be noted that the locking piece which is designated as 111 is a lateral locking piece engaging in a recess 110 in the guiding track way of the camera front. The locking piece is spring pressed so that it will snap into this recess whenever it comes opposite to it, as it must necessarily do in being pushed back in closing.

In the form shown, the camera front 101 slides between guides 10 1 beingraised or lowered by a simitar lever 103 fulcru-med to one guide at 103 and connected by pin and slot at 103 to the front 101.

The front 101 is normally held locked by a pin 108 set on a vertical retaining shaft 108, which passes through a block 102 which has a longitudinal slot 105 and a transverse slot 106. The shaft 108 has at its lower end a finger lever 107 by which it may be r0- tated to clear the pin 108 from the transverse slot 106 and bring it into the line of the vertical slot 105 on the block 102 which is carried by the moving front so that it may be moved vertically by the simitar lever 103.

The adjustment of the front 101 is thus prevented unless the finger lever 10? is operated. hen the finger lever 107 is operated it moves within the base 131 of the camera front a slide 125. This movement is effected by a short arm 10? which engages the slide 125. The cam piece 125 does not, as in the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive, directly move the locking piece, but in this form raises av member 1&0 normally held down through the resiliency of its shank 141 and which has a recess 112 having an inclined wall L12 which acts as the withdrawing cam for the locking piece 111.

he recess 112 constitutes a locking pocket for holding back the locking piece 111 which is under the normal forward tendency of a spring 143 which will be later described. The locking piece 110 has an upwardly extending part 141 (note that Fig. 10 is inverted). This piece 1&1 extends up through an opening in the slide 125 and is locked in a notch 132 in the edge of the base 131.

This provides for the sustaining engagement of the member 1410 whenever the front base 131 is moved laterally of the closing slide 130. This is because the notch 132 is centrally disposed in the base 131 and when not in alinement to receive the extension 11 1 the whole piece 1 1'0 is held in depressed position and the locking piece 111 therefore free to be thrust forward to seek the recess 110 in the guiding track way.

Referring now to Fig. 11 the details of the structure of these parts may be more clearly seen. he locking piece 111 is in the form of a lever pivoted at 111 It is normally thrust outward by the spring 1&3 which is carried by and gets a bearing in a transverse piece 150. It may be explained that this sprin 143 may be of any convenient shape. in the form shown it is simply shaped and disposed to accommodate itself to the parts of the structure which we have shown. It will be further understood that in the drawings and specification illustration and description of various parts of the commercial structures to which our invention has been. shown as applied, have been omitted as immaterial to our present invention and as therefore tending merely to confusion.

Nhile we have shown our invention in two somewhat different forms and as applied to two somewhat different types of camera strucciu'e it will be understood that our invention may be variously embodied and applied to various structures or types, or made a part of cameras of other or different type. All this may be done without departing from the spirit of our invention if w thin the limits of the appended. claims.

Vfhat we therefore claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a camera having a folding front, a front member, a base and vertical guides for said front, a slide member having a lateral guide relation to the front base, a locking element between the front and vertical guides therefor, a locking mechanism for the slide and operatively connected with said vertical loclr, said slide locking mechanism having a permissive relation to said base when alined, ano a prohibitive relation to said base when not alined.

2. A camera having a folding front, a guide frame, a front having a vertical movement therein, a folding slide, a projectable bolt carried by said folding slide and having an alined engagement with said frame when withdrawn, means for normally holding the bolt withdrawn, and a lock between said front and said guide and operative connection between said rotatable lock and said project-able bolt, the return of the front after adjustment automatically ren'ioving said bolt from position to interfere with the folding of the front.

A camera having a folding front, a guide frame, a front having a vertical movement therein, a folding slide, a projectable bolt carried by said folding slide and having an alined engagement with said frame when withdrawn, means for normally holding the bolt withdrawn, a rotatable alinement lock between said front and said rude, and operative connection between said r tatable lock and said projectable bolt, the return of the front after adjustment automatically removing said bolt from position to interfere with the folding of the front.

4. A camera having a folding front, a rotatable guide, a front having a vertical movement therein, an operating nut threaded on said guide, folding slide, a projecteble bolt carried by said folding slide and having an alined engagement with said frame when withdrawn, means for normally holding the bolt withdrawn, an alinement lock between said front engaged and disengaged by the rotation of said guide. and operative connection between said rotatable guide and said projectable bolt, the return of the front after adjustment automatically removing said bolt from position to interfere with the folding of the front.

5. A camera having a folding front having an alined folding position, a vertical guide for said front, a closing slide, a projectable lock carried by said closing slide, a recess in said guide adapted to receive said lock when in withdrawn position, a lock for vertical adjustment of said. front, including a member having a vertical opening and a transverse opening, a locking piece adapted to find said transverse opening when said front is in its alined folding position, means for normally holding said locking piece rotated to seek said horizontal opening, means for rotating said locking piece to disengage said horizontal opening, a locking mechanism for locking said closing slide and an operative connection between said slide lock and said vertical lock actuatable by said slide lock when said vertical lock is relieved.

6. A camera having a folding front hav ing an alined folding position, a vertical guide for said front, a closing slide, a projectable lock carried by said closing slide, recess in said guide adapted to receive said lock when in withdrawn position, a lock for vertical adjustment of said front, including a member having a vertical opening and a transverse opening, a locking piece adapted to find said transverse opening when said front is in its alined folding position, means for normally holding said locking piece rotated to seek said horizontal opening, means for rotating said locking piece to disengage said horizontal opening, a locking mechanism for locking said closing slide including a resilient element, a spring pressed element in control of the slide lock, said spring pressed element having an alined interlocking relation with said guide in alinement when relieved, and an operz tive connection between said slide lock and said. vertical lock actuatable by said slide lock when said vertical lock is relieved.

7. A camera having a folding front having an alined folding position, a vertical guide for said front, a closing slide, a projecta-ble lock carried by said closing slide, a recess in said guide adapted to receive said lock when in withdrawn position. a lock for vertical adjustment of said front, including a member having a vertical opening and :1 transverse opening, a locking piece adapted to find said transverse opening when said front is in its alined folding position, means for normally holding said locking piece rotated to seek said horizontal opening, means for rotating said locking piece to disengage said horizontal opening, a locking mechanism for locking said closing slide, said slide having a sustaining relation to said lock except when alined with said slide and in a relation permissive to unlocking when alined with said slide, and an operative connection between said slide lock and said vertical lock actuatable by said slide lock when said vertical lock is relieved.

8. A camera having a folding front having an alined folding position, a vertical guide for said front, a closing slide, a projectable lockcarried by said closing slide, a recess in said guide adapted to receive said lock when in withdrawn position, a lock for vertical adjustment, of said front, including a member having a vertical opening and a transverse opening, a locking piece adapted to find said transverse opening when said front is in its alined folding position, means for normally holding said locking piece rotated to seek said horizontal opening, means for rotating said locking piece to disengage said horizontal opening, a locking mechanism for locking said closing slide, including a resilient element, a spring pressed element in control of the slide lock, said spring pressed element having an alined interlocking relation with said guide in alinement when relieved, said slide having a sustaining relation to said lock except when alined with said slide and in a relation permissive to unlocking when alined with said slide, and an operative connection between said slide lock and said vertical lock actuatable by said slide look when said vertical lock is relieved.

9. In a camera, in combination, an adjustable front having an alined folding position, an obstruction, a locking element normally maintained out of interfering position relative to said obstruction, a manually-operated device for adjusting said front and operatively connected to said locking element whereby to automatically move said locking element into interfering position relative to said obstruction upon adjustment of the front, said locking element remaining in interfering position so long as the front is disposed in any position other than its predetermined alined folding position, thereby to prevent improper folding of the front, and said front automatically returning said locking element to non-interfering position upon restoration of the alinement of the front.

10. In a camera, in combination, an adjustable front having an alined folding position, an obstruction, a locking element having an interfering and a non-interfering position relative to said obstruction according to the position of the front, a rotatable post for adjusting said front constructed and arranged to automatically moi'e the locking element into and out of interfering position according to whether the front is adjusted out of or into its alined folding position, and an operative connection from said post to said locking element including a cam for moving the locking element in one direction anc a spring for moving it in the opposite direction.

11. In a camera, in combination, a vertically adjustable front having an alined folding position, an obstruction, a locking device having an interfering and a noninterfering relation to said obstruction, a post guidingly supporting said adjustable front and operatively connected with the locking device to actuate said device, said post having a key-way and having a locking recess communicating with said key-way, a finger-piece keyed to said post and effective when operated to cause the post to turn through a partial revolution and by such rotation set the locking device in its interfering relation to the obstruction, a spring acting on said post to initially resist said rotation, and an operating member associated with said post and arranged to cause the front to slide vertically.

12. In a camera, in combination, a vertically adjustable front having an alined folding position, an obstruction, a locking device having an interfering and a noninterfering relation to said obstruction, a post guidingly supporting said adjustable front and operatively connected with the locking device to actuate said device, said post having a key-way and having a locking recess communicating with said keyway, a finger-piece keyed to said post and effective when operated to cause the post to turn through a partial revolution and by such rotation set the locking device in its interfering relation to the obstruction, a spring acting on said post to initially resist said rotation, fixed key normally disposed in said locking recess and adapted upon operation of said finger-piece to enter said key-way to prevent further rotation of the post, and a rotatable operating member associated with said post and arranged to cause the front to slide vertically, the return movement of the front to its alined folding position releasing the spring and said spring rotating said post in a direction reverse to its direction of initial rotation and moving the locking device out of interfering position relative to the obstruction.

13. In a camera, a vertically and horizontally adjustable front having an alined folding position, an obstruction, a locking device, a spring normally holding said device out of interfering position relative to said obstruction, a post supporting said front for guiding vertical adjustment, a base plate carrying said post and constructed to permit horizontal adjustment of said front and having a locking recess, a projection on said locking device normally disposed in said recess, an operative connection from said post to said locking device, means for rotating said post to move said locking device into interfering position relative to the obstruction and to Withdraw said projection from its locking recess, and means associated with. said post for adjusting said front vertically.

14. In a camera, a vertically and horizontally adjustable front having an alined folding position, an obstruction, a locking device, a spring normally holding said device out of interfering position relative to said obstruction, a post supporting said front for guiding vertical adjustment, a base plate carrying said post and constructed to permit horizontal adjustment of said front and having a locking recess, a projection on said locking device normally disposed in said recess, an operative connection, including a coiled spring and a cam lever, from said post to said locking device, means for rotating said post to move said locking device into interfering position relative to the obstruction and to Withdraw said projection from its le -king recess, and means associated with said post for adjusting said front vertically.

15. In a camera, a support mounted for rotative movement, a front slidable vertically on said support and having a predetermined relation of alinement in closing, means for rotating said support, a stop, means movable auton'laticallv into a position of interference with relation to said stop upon rotation of said support in one direction, and means for adjusting said front on said support elfect've only after the support has been rotated and the automatic means has been actuated, the restoration of the front to alined closing position automatically moving said automatic means back into interfering relation to said stop.

In testimony whereof We {LfllX our signatures in presence of Witnesses.

CHARLES M. MARCH. CHARLES L. 'IIDD. lVitnesses to Charles M. March:

Cnns'inn M. Foss, GEORGE E. Manon. Vitnesses to Charles L. Tidd: THATCHER B. DUNN, HERMAN D. BoUL. 

